Tortilla (restaurant chain) explained

Tortilla Mexican Grill PLC
Type:Public limited company
Foundation:2007
Location:London, England, UK
Locations:53
Key People:Brandon Stephens, Jennifer Stephens (founders), Richard Morris (CEO), Andrew Naylor (CFO), Jason Thomas (COO),
Area Served:United Kingdom, UAE, Saudi Arabia
Products:Mexican

Tortilla Mexican Grill PLC (branded as Tortilla) is a Mexican fast-food restaurant based in the United Kingdom, founded in 2007 by Brandon and Jennifer Stephens.[1]

As of October 2022, it has 84 branches in the UK.[2] Internationally, Tortilla operates in the Middle East, with 10 stores in Dubai and Saudi Arabia through a franchise partnership with Eathos.[3]

History

The first Tortilla restaurant opened in Islington in 2007, becoming the UK’s largest fast-food Mexican brand.[4] Tortilla offers dine-in, self-serve, take away, click and collect, and delivery.

Tortilla's growth was supported by a steady expansion across the UK, including 10 sites in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, a cloud kitchen estate and exclusive delivery partnership with Deliveroo.[5]

In 2019, Tortilla expanded its footprint to include some of the UK’s most prominent travel hubs, including the Euston railway station, through a partnership with SSP Group.[6] In October 2021, Tortilla announced the launch of two new sites in Gatwick Airport and Leeds Skelton Lake Services.[7]

In May 2021, Tortilla opened a site in Chessington World of Adventures Resort, through a partnership with Merlin Entertainments.[8]

Over the years, Tortilla won several industry awards, including:

In May 2022, Tortilla announced it has acquired the Mexican restaurant chain Chilango Ltd from the investment company RDCP Group Ltd., for £2.8 million.[13]

Values

The brand only uses grass-fed British Isle brisket in its slow-cooked Barbacoa, as well as Red Tractor approved pork,[14] and is a signatory of the Better Chicken Commitment.[15] Meanwhile all vegetarian and vegan dishes are Vegan & Vegetarian Society approved.[16]

In January 2021, to aid youth employment, Tortilla has offered 50 new placements as part of the Government’s Kickstart Scheme.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clawson . Trevor . An American In London - From Silicon Valley To The UK Restaurant Trade . 2023-01-07 . Forbes . en . 7 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230107171809/https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevorclawson/2017/02/13/an-american-in-london-from-silicon-valley-to-the-uk-restaurant-trade/ . live .
  2. Web site: 4 October 2022 . Tortilla Mexican Grill plc, Interim results, 3 October 2022 . live . Tortilla Group PLC . 12 June 2023 . 4 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221004162705/https://tortillagroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/221003-Tortilla-Interim-Results-FINAL.pdf .
  3. Web site: 8 October 2021. AIM Admission Document. live. Tortilla Group PLC. 12 June 2023. 19 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319121822/https://tortillagroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Tortilla-Mexican-Grill-PLC-Admission-Document-compressed.pdf.
  4. News: Lutrario. Joe. 12 November 2019. Wrap stars how Tortilla won the burrito wars. Big Hospitality. 12 June 2023. 29 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629190042/https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2019/11/12/Wrap-stars-how-Tortilla-won-the-burrito-wars. live.
  5. News: Lutrario. Joe. 23 August 2021. Tortilla strengthens delivery partnership with Deliveroo. Big Hospitality. 12 June 2023. 24 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824025234/https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2021/08/23/Tortilla-strengthens-delivery-partnership-with-Deliveroo. live.
  6. Web site: 2 December 2019. Tortilla signs development agreement with ssp. live. Tortilla. 12 June 2023. 10 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110120004/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/media_list/tortilla-signs-development-agreement-with-ssp/.
  7. Web site: 9 September 2021. Tortilla Launches Two Further Sites Through Strategic Partnership with SSP. live. Tortilla Group PLC. 12 June 2023. 10 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110112413/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tortilla-launches-two-new-sites-with-SSP.pdf.
  8. Web site: 6 May 2021. Tortilla joins Merlin Entertainments. live. Tortilla. 12 June 2023. 10 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110112410/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MEDIA-RELEASE-Tortilla-joins-Merlin-Entertainments.pdf.
  9. News: Winners inaugural qsr media uk centegra awards announced. QSR Media. 12 June 2023. 19 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319123324/https://qsrmedia.co.uk/promotions/news/winners-inaugural-qsr-media-uk-centegra-awards-announced. live.
  10. Web site: 30 Under 30 - Restaurant Marketer & Innovator. live. 12 June 2023. 4 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204181241/https://www.restaurantinnovator.com/30-under-30.
  11. News: Lutrario. Joe. 4 December 2018. Restaurant's R200 Awards winners announced. 12 June 2023. 1 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220701075708/https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2018/12/04/Restaurant-s-R200-Awards-winners-announced. live.
  12. News: Seymour. Andrew. 6 June 2018. FEJ Awards 2018 Winner Operator of the Year - Best New Kitchen Concept. Food Service Equipment Journal. 12 June 2023. 10 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110112418/https://www.foodserviceequipmentjournal.com/fej-awards-2018-winner-operator-year-best-new-kitchen-concept/. live.
  13. Web site: IN BRIEF: Tortilla Mexican Grill acquires Mexican food chain Chilango Financial News . 2022-05-23 . www.lse.co.uk . en.
  14. Web site: 18 November 2019. Food You Can Count On. live. Tortilla. 12 June 2023. 22 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220522052321/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/news/food-you-can-count-on-2/.
  15. Web site: 7 November 2019. Better Chicken Commitment. live. Tortilla. 12 June 2023. 10 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110124749/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/faqs_list/better-chicken-commitment/.
  16. Web site: 6 June 2018. Food You Can Count On. live. Tortilla. 12 June 2023. 22 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220522050744/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/news/food-you-can-count-on/.
  17. Web site: 26 January 2021. Tortilla Aids Youth Employment With Kickstart Scheme. live. Tortilla. 12 June 2023. 10 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110120651/https://www.tortilla.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MEDIA-RELEASE-Tortilla-aids-youth-employment-with-Kickstart-Scheme.pdf.